Israeli army bulldozes West Bank village

08 December 2010 | PressTV

Israeli military bulldozers have leveled a school and forced dozens of families living in tents near the occupied West Bank city of al-Khalil (Hebron) to evacuate.

The Israeli bulldozers entered the village of Tana early on Wednesday, razing the structures. A Red Cross facility was also severely damaged in the demolition activity, witnesses told Press TV.

The Red Cross building reportedly provided service to the impoverished residents of the village.

The Palestinian Authority refused to condemn the demolitions. Israeli authorities said the structures had been built without the required permits.

Palestinians argue that their efforts to construct a free and independent Palestinian state will prove fruitless as long as Tel Aviv continues its destruction plans.

Figures from the Israeli non-governmental organization, Bimkom, reveal that nearly 95 percent of applications lodged by Palestinians for building permits are denied.

The Israeli non-profit organization also noted that Israel’s Civil Administration only grants some 12 permits a year.

Israel has demolished 995 Palestinian homes and displaced 5,783 persons, including 3,109 children, in occupied al-Quds (Jerusalem) since the start of 2000, according to the Palestinian Information Center.